I Will Die for You, My Darling! - Chapter 62
Chapter 62
“If life is so terrible for you, good. That’s what I wanted. To ruin your life.”
“.…”
“But I’m not satisfied yet. You have to suffer more, fall further. Only then will I be happy to kill you.”
Even as he spoke those words, Isaac’s tone wasn’t mocking. His dry voice sounded utterly desolate. Arietta’s body trembled slightly.
“Go to sleep. Don’t try anything foolish.”
“….”
Isaac climbed onto the damp sheets and pulled Arietta into his arms.
“Just as you’ve been my nightmare for so long, I’ll be yours.”
“I’m leaving the Glass Dome mansion,” Arietta said resolutely.
Yet her instincts, long conditioned by Isaac, spoke differently. Her slender arms wrapped tightly around him.
When her body and words say different things, which should I believe?
After a moment of silent contemplation, Isaac chose to believe the cruel words she spoke. If he believed the trembling body in his arms, he might start to harbor strange expectations. He didn’t know what those expectations were.
Isaac sighed. “Just go to sleep.”
Arietta fidgeted rebelliously, then burrowed deeper into his embrace.
At last, they lay still, holding each other. But neither of them slept. They were simply lost in their own thoughts.
***
The next morning, Arietta remained in bed for several minutes after Isaac left the room. Her body was stiff, her hair tangled. She hadn’t slept a wink, so her eyelids were heavy, her mind hazy. Isaac had slipped out of bed as soon as the blue tinge of dawn had faded. While he was in the room, Arietta had deliberately kept her eyes closed, only sensing his presence. She didn’t yet know what repercussions her words from the night before would have.
“Dying here, all at once, seems too easy for you, Arietta,” a voice said nearby.
Arietta didn’t respond.
“Leave the Glass Dome mansion.” Isaac’s voice was flat. “You hate being confined, and I hate the thought of you dying peacefully. If you leave the Glass Dome mansion, our interests align perfectly.”
Arietta remained sprawled on the bed, silently listening to Isaac’s words.
“I want you to die as horribly as possible.” He reiterated the words he had spoken to her decades ago, in front of the swamp. “I’d prefer to choose the time of your death myself, but I’ll concede that point. Go. Die on your own. Don’t disturb my peace of mind in my mansion.”
Those were Isaac’s last words before he left the bedroom.
Click.
Only after the door closed did Arietta exhale a slow breath. She couldn’t believe it. The cage door had opened. So easily.
“I should have lied sooner…” That was Arietta’s only regret. She hadn’t realized it would be this simple.
She looked out the window. Once she left the Glass Dome, death, though unwelcome, would be close at hand.
***
At the same time, Isaac returned to the main house after a long absence. Gamon, who was preparing to depart with the Remains Investigation Team, bowed his head in surprise.
“Do you have any new instructions?”
“I’m going too, today.” Isaac’s unexpected words sounded like a whim. Those preparing to leave exchanged glances.
“Then should I stay at the annex today?” Gamon asked, following the usual procedure. Someone had to remain at the mansion to watch over the time bomb that was Arietta.
“No.” Another unexpected answer.
“It’s time I directly managed the Remains Investigation Team. Proceed with the same formation as the previous 25th expedition. Make sure they don’t try anything funny. Check their equipment information and run copy tests at the plant.”
“But, Big Cat…” Even the ever-loyal Gamon, who never questioned Isaac’s orders, wore an expression of bewilderment. “Are you sure it’s alright to leave the collectible in the annex unattended?”
At that moment, Isaac felt a powerful urge to tell Gamon everything. ‘She said she’s tired of living in the Glass Dome, that it’s become unbearable. She even said she wants to leave.’
But her small, pale arms had been wrapped tightly around him until dawn. If he stayed there any longer, he would start to believe her body over her words. He’d finally understood the reason behind her desperate cries for death. She was done with the game of love, tired of being confined. If he started to believe the feeling of her fragile body pressed against him, that understanding would shatter. He’d be lost in the maze again.
Isaac forced himself to forget the sensation of her delicate form.
And besides…
“Just leave her,” Isaac said curtly. He had his own reasons.
